ISLAMABAD: Justice Athar Minallah of Islamabad High Court (IHC) Monday excused from hearing a petition challenging the presidential powers to pardon convict persons and send the matter to chief justice IHC to form a new bench.
The petition was filed by Pakistan Awami Tehreek’s leader Khurram Nawaz Gandapur. During the hearing, Minallah excused from hearing the case and said he could not conduct hearing on this matter as the petitioner had been his client once.
The judge sent the matter to the chief justice to form a new bench for further proceeding.
The petitioner, in his plea, said the powers to forgive the convict persons under article 45 of the Constitution should be withdrawn from the president. He said such power was against the Islamic and basic law of justice.
